>>'airfhócrach' and 'airfhócraid' (prescribed person, outlaw).
>Can you explain the etymology of these terms? Neither MacBain
>nor Cuardach ins an Dúil Bélrai give either term, nor anything
>I can find like "fócrach" or "fócraid."
Both words are related to Old Irish 'airfhócrae' (act of proclaiming)
which is the verbal noun of the verb 'ar-fócair' (proclaims). Pedersen
derives this verb from *air-fo-uss-gair. All this I take from the
various entries in the DIL (Dictionary of the Irish Language.)
>I'm guessing there must be a separate Old Irish *legal* term for "an
>exile."
>Would this be díbertach ("exile, fugitive")?
This word certainly occurs with that meaning in DIL. However, none of
the sources cited there are legal (and I don't recall having seen it in
the legal materials - not that that means much!). DIL refers this word
to 'díupartach' (fraudulent) which may perhaps be suggestive of someone
who has been excluded from the protection of the law because of their
own flouting of it.
>Could it therefore be used to describe a person in the
>ostracised/banished/excommunicated situation described by Caesar
>in DBG (assuming such a sentence could be passed in contemporary
>Ireland)?
Personally, I would not use Caesar's description of the Gauls as a
starting point for any enquiry into seventh-century-plus Irish law.
Neil
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